Buffet City — Restaurant in Sarasota

DISCRIMINATION, RATS, FILTH

We were a party of five with a disabled young lady (my 22 year old daughter ) in our party. She had a service dog with her (Golden Retriever). The manager Lee asked if he was a service dog and she replied he was and we were seated. When my daughter was getting her food, Lee and another worker advised her that she could not have her service dog up there with her. That she would need to sit down and ask someone else to get her food if she needed him for assistance to get it. He was politely advised that this was against the law (Americans with Disabilities Act) He was very condescending and rude. What would My daughter have done if she were alone? Just sit there and not be able to go get food??? My daughters well trained service dog is very well behaved and performs a variety of task for her. He just walked with her when she graduated from the University of Florida and the dean herself commented on what a great team they were. He lived with her on campus there. He goes everywhere she goes and most people don't have an issue and if they do, they are advised of the law and apologize. This didn't happen here. What makes matters worse, there were RATS there that in my opinion pose a much greater risk to public safety than a well behaved and groomed service animal. Me, my daughter, and another customer watched a rat run from the bathroom area to under Hibachi table. Speaking of bathrooms....that's another public health risk! They were absolutely disgusting!!!! We have been to the Buffet City in Port Charlotte and Fort Myers and never had an issue with them allowing her service dog to help her. We have also never seen RATS at the others. Also their bathrooms were clean each time we went. I would advise Mr Lee to stop picking on disabled people and their service animals and pay more attention to the RATS and FILTH in his restaurant. We all paid over 22.00 for Sunday dinner (almost 26.00 with drinks). There were 5 of us. We can think of much better ways to spend our money and other restaurants that don't discriminate and are clean and free of rodent's. My next call may be to the ADA, the health inspector, and possibly the media. I would hate to see another disabled person and their service animal be treated so rude...

I just realized that I helped promote this place before they even opened and then promoted again on opening week with pictures and reviews on Facebook but never did I review on Google, even though I posted a lot of pictures on Google lol So here we go! I’ve been coming here since opening day, with high hopes and expectations. Yes I knew on opening day and the following weeks they’d be on top of everything and they were…. That being said, here we are almost 4 months and 23 visits later and they are still at opening day standards!! The food is good, the service is excellent, everyone is very friendly and on top of everything and it is clean..very clean, all of the staff is constantly clearing tables as you finish a plate and cleaning all parts of their areas including spots that other restaurants would normally let collect dust!! I’m very impressed and happy to come here once or twice a week as a treat and a place to just unwind and relax! A very welcoming environment in a very nicely decorated and upbeat atmosphere, definitely recommend!!

Another update!! I went to go check on the restaurant the day after Hurricane Milton hit us because I consider them friends now…. I was so overwhelmed with joy to see them feeding people for FREE….ANYONE that needed food…it was for takeout as half of the lights in the restaurant were not working but they were such a blessing to so many people…The owners and staff are absolutely AMAZING and even though I did not partake in food that day because I did not need it…. I want to thank them and praise them for being there for our community!! Update… sitting here on a December weekend enjoying the food, wonderful service from my favorite server Maggie and of course enjoying their beautiful Christmas tree!!!

Snow Crab Legs are now officially on the weekend menu!! And I love when my favorite server gives me her recommendations on trying her creations… Egg drop hot and sour soup!!

Update… the food is even great for take out when you’re not...

I have avoided going to Chinese buffets in this town for years since before COVID times because I was left disappointed by the quality of multiple competitors. Well after more than 5 years passing by, I decided it was time to try again after seeing a new one had opened relatively recently (end of 2024?)

I'm so so pleased with the array of food offered here. There was only one item that I found myself thinking "don't choose this one again" which was the little cake balls of chocolate that have some strange artificial flavor, perhaps an extract. Definitely did not seem like there was any vanilla extract in it and the mystery one was subbed instead. They look decently pretty though, so don't be fooled.

The variety of food is large enough even at lunch time that my stomach did not have room to try everything I wanted, even when only taking a single piece. Good reason to come back again! Big assortment of fried foods and some classic American foods like Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy too. Would likely please most people's palates not following a restriction. The frozen dessert section is impressive and includes good quality Hershey's chocolate and strawberry crunch bars. It's not just the little ice cream cups

The whole restaurant looks clean, including the bathrooms. Staff was kind and attentive. Price is reasonable and feels worth it to go here. I'd come back to try out the dinner assortment next...